Local Vancouver Ski Area to Receive Donation of HeartSine AED after Life-Saving Event at Sterling Crane

Thanks to a young, CPR-trained mechanic, a crane operator at Sterling Crane has survived a sudden cardiac arrest, enabling a HeartSine® samaritan® public access defibrillator (PAD) to be donated to the Mount Cain ski area in Vancouver Island, Canada.

HeartSine, a world leader in defibrillators for public access and non professional use, and its Authorized Distributor Rescue 7, are making the donation as part of the HeartSine Forward Hearts program which celebrates the life-saving event by enabling individuals who have survived a sudden cardiac arrest event as a result of a HeartSine defibrillator to potentially save another life by donating a HeartSine samaritan PAD to the charity or organization of their choice.

The donation to Mount Cain is being made on behalf of a crane operator at the Sterling Crane facility in Alberta, Canada who survived a sudden cardiac arrest due to the efforts of a young mechanic named Brody Davis. When the crane operator collapsed in the yard, Sterling staff immediately responded by placing a call to emergency medical services (EMS) and providing immediate first aid care.

When Davis reached his fallen co-worker, the man in his late 50’s was not breathing and had no pulse. Davis quickly set up and powered on the HeartSine samaritan PAD Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and a shock was delivered to the worker within seconds. While waiting for the EMS to arrive seven minutes after the crane operator collapsed, the AED instructed Davis to perform chest compressions, and delivered a necessary second shock to revive the victim. The crane operator was transported to the hospital where doctors diagnosed both sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack. Thankfully, he has made a full recovery.

Because of the life saving efforts of Brody Davis, a recent high school graduate, a HeartSine AED was donated to the Ballenas Secondary School in Parksville, British Colombia, where Davis learned his rescue skills as part of ROAMS, an outdoor program in which students learn survival skills. Alan Halverson, the retired teacher who ran the ROAMS program when Davis attended, suggested that the donation be forwarded to Mount Cain, an ideal recipient for the AED since the large recreational area caters to the local community. The ski area also participated in the ROAMS program.

“The HeartSine AED worked exactly as expected,” noted Bob Picken, Director Risk Management of Sterling Crane. “One hopes that the devices will never be needed, but it is comforting to know that our branches are equipped to respond to such emergencies. “

Sterling Crane made the lifesaving decision to equip all of its 24 locations with AEDs in late 2011. This decision was a result of a safety initiative in which it partnered with a local emergency room doctor to improve the company’s safety program and culture. The doctor recommended the AED due to Sterling Crane’s aging workforce and higher risk jobs.

About SCA

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, causing blood to stop flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if it’s not treated within minutes. CPR alone will not restart the heart, so the American Heart Association recommends CPR combined with early defibrillation (within three to five minutes) for the best outcome.

Worlwide, SCA claims more than 7 million lives annually. It occurs abruptly and without warning, with 84 percent of SCA events occurring outside of a healthcare setting.

About HeartSine Technologies

HeartSine Technologies, a world leader in personal and public access defibrillators, advances the deployment of life-saving defibrillation therapy for the treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in non-traditional areas of care.

Designed for use in public areas, the company’s entire line of Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) products leverages its proprietary, clinically advanced SCOPE technology to optimize the administration of life-saving treatment.

The company’s flagship product line, the HeartSine samaritan® PAD (Public Access Defibrillator), is IP56 rated for durability and exceptional reliability to meet the unique environmental demands of public use. Its industry-leading warranty and innovative battery/electrode Pad-Pak combine to give the samaritan PAD the lowest total cost of ownership.

HeartSine is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Newtown, Pennsylvania. To learn how a HeartSine AED can save lives, please visit www.heartsine.com or follow HeartSine at Facebook, and Twitter.

About Rescue 7, Inc.

Rescue 7, a HeartSine Authorized Distributor, is the only national health and safety training company in Canada that offers full service corporate training systems that make compliance and program management a seamless and pain free experience. For over 14 years, the company has delivered end-to-end programs to over 8,000 corporations across North America and 250,000 participants.

Additional information about Rescue 7 is available on its web site at www.rescue7.net.